Tag: 3-pack

Local SEO is one of the most powerful marketing mediums for local business. However, many business owners and marketing professional are unsure where to begin with implementing SEO.

These local SEO tips will work for just about any business that want to boost its visibility with local search results. These are the listings for which Google lists three local businesses and a map above the organic search results (commonly known as the the Google 3-pack in the SEO community).

Depending on how your website is set up, and your business, you might not be able to implement all of these tips, but implementing just 70 percent of them is enough for most local businesses to rank high in local search results. Let’s jump right in.

1. Create and verify your Google+ Local page

Once you create your Google+ Local page, you need to verify your address (by entering your area pin code), email address (by clicking on email link sent to you), and website (by linking Google+ local page with your site).

2. Have a mailing address in city or town that you are targeting

Without an address, it would be difficult for you to rank in local search results for that particular location. However, you can still rank for normal search results for your localized keywords that are normally displayed right below local business listings.

3. Decide the website page you want to list on your Google+ local page

Assess whether your newly created page, your homepage, or another page on your site (about us, contact, services, etc), is most relevant, in terms on on-site optimization (header tag, title tag, content, etc), to effectively list on your Google+ Local page.

4. Fully complete your Google+ Local page

Write a short (80-100 words) description of your business to populate your Google+ page. It should also include your keywords and services. Provide opening hours, contact details and upload at least one video and five photos.

5. Choose suitable categories on your Google+ Local page

You need to choose proper categories that accurately describe your business for long term SEO success. You also need to ensure your category choices state all about your business (e.g. cosmetic dentist, electrician, dental clinic, etc), rather than products you sell or services you provide.

6. Be consistent with your company name, address and phone number

Make sure that your business name, address and phone numbers are listed on Google+ Local page and they exactly match with the name, address and phone numbers listed on a specific page of your website. You also need to list your local phone number (with its area code and city you are planning to target, on specific page of your website and your Google+ page.)

7. Make it super easy for people to find and/or contact you

You should put your website phone number, address and email address in a prominent position on each page of your site. Also add a contact form to your website’s footer or sidebar to ensure proper local SEO.

8. Include your keyword and location on your website landing page

Include primary keyword and location that you want to rank for in your header tag, title, and written content on the specific page of your site listed on Google+ Local page.

9. Add a map of your location to your website

You can search for your business address on Google Maps. Now click on “link” button to get an embedded code for the map, and include that particular code on your website page that is listed on your Google+ Local page.

10. Create a separate website page for each location that you wish to target

If your business operates from multiple locations, you need to create one page on your site for each of them, and optimize (header tag, title tag, written content, etc) each of those pages specifically for just one location.

11. Optimize your website for multiple devices

You should optimize your website for various mobile devices such as laptops, desktops, tablets, and smartphones. Having a responsive web design that renders on all devices will impact your business’ web presence on Google mobile search. For information on mobile web design, click here.

12. Create separate page for each of your products or services

Create one page that effectively summarizes all your services or products and have a link to other pages that cover details of those products. Also write unique content for your website.

13. List your business on directories and third-party websites

List your business name, address, and phone number on authoritative and trustworthy websites. Ensure same phone number and address is listed each time. This will definitely boost your local SEO efforts.